Rod-catcher.



MAXWELL KREPP, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROD-CATCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed October 27, 1905. Serial No. 284,689.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAXWELL KREPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county of V enango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rod-Catchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in rod-catchers, the. object, construction, and operation of which is herein fully set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the head of an oil-well and shows the way in which my device is applied to a polished rod for the purpose of catching the same.

The same reference-letters indicate identical parts in the several views.

In order to convey a clear understanding of the object of my device, it is necessary to set forth somewhat minutely that portion of the details of an oil-well which are above the derrick-floor, and for this purpose Fig. 5 has been prepared and elucidated in such a manner as to be nearly self-eXplanatory. The sucker-rod of an oil-well is connected, through the medium of the polished rod, to the walk ing-beam, by means of which beam said rods are given an up-and-down movement. Said polished rod is secured to the walking-beam by means of an adjuster, of which there are various styles; but in Fig. 5 is shown one of a common and well-known type, the 'eneral form of which is that of a cross. T e pol ished rod passes through the vertical arms of the adjuster, and the horizontal arms rest upon the walking-beam or its equivalent. A set-screw passes through one of said horizontal arms and bears against the polished rod, thus securing it firmly in the adjuster.

For various reasons it often becomes necessary to readjust the polished rod in the ad juster in order to keep the plunger pro erly located in the working barrel. When t e readjusting operation becomes necessary, the walkin -beam or its equivalent is brought to its highest position. The polished rod is then caught by some means and held stationary, the set-screw in the adjuster is loosened, and the adjuster then slipped down upon the rod, when the screw is again tightened at the desired point, and the readjustment is complete.

Inasmuch as the weight sustained by the polished rod is in some instances several hundred pounds, it is necessary to have some strong, simple, and quickly-operated means of catching and holding the rod while the readjusting is being accomplished, and it is for this purpose that my rod-catcher is devised.

The construction of my device is substantially as follows: I provide a spanner l, which is of nearly semicircular shape, having an opening or gap 2 of sufficient width to freely receive the polished rod. At a point quartering or at a right angle to said opening is seated a wedge-shaped vertically-movable j aw 3, which is actuated by the lever 4. The upward inclination of the seat of said jaw is outward, so that when the outer end of said lever 4 is thrown downward the jaw 3 is raised and recedes, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The polished rod may then freely enter the opening or gap 2 of the spanner; but when said lever is carried upward to a horizontal position it throws the jaw downward and inward, so that it encroa'ches upon the opening 2 of the spanner.

When the catcher is to be used, jaw 3 is raised as aforesaid and the spanner is placed about the polished rod, resting upon the stuffing-boX. l/Vhen the polished rod begins to descend, lever 4 is raised, which throws j aw 3 downward and inward against said rod and clamps it firmly, thus preventing its further downward movement. The contact-face of jaw 3 is knurled or roughened in order to cause it to more effectually grip the polished rod. The rod is thus held stationary while the adjusting is being done, and when this is complete and the rod again raised the catcher may be easily and quickly removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character specified, a spanner, having a substantially semicircular gap, a vertically-movable jaw located at one side of said gap, and means of actuating said J 2. In a device of the character described, a spanner having an opening of substantially semicircular form, in combination with a downwardly and inwardly moving jaw, lo-

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cated at one side of said opening, and means of actuating said jaw.

said gap.

3. In a device of the character described, a spanner having a gap an inclined seat at one [6 spanner having a gap, and a vertically-niovside of said gap, a wedge-shaped jaw, movable, wedge-shaped jaw located at one side of ably seated in said seat.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 4. In a device of the character described, a in presence of two witnesses. spanner, having a gap as shown, an inclined-f MAXWELL KREPP. seat at cne side of said gap, and a movable Witnesses: jaw in said seat. F. H. BROWN,

5. In a device of the character described, a D. I. MQVAY. 

